It can be the soft cotton cloth, the warmth of lambswool or the luxury of cashmere. Regardless of their attractiveness, natural cotton, lambswool and cashmere fibers offer a special experience that cannot be compared with plastics.
Nobody knows exactly how long cotton was used by mankind, but archaeologists have found pieces of cotton cloth in caves in Mexico that are at least 7,000 years old. As early as 3,000 years before the birth of Christ, cotton was being grown and processed into fabric in the Indus Valley in Asia. At the same time, the Egyptians wove and wore cotton textiles.
Cotton is one of the most widely grown crops in the world today. The comfort and softness of cotton, which is made from cellulose fibers, is due to its excellent absorption properties. Cotton clothing quickly absorbs sweat, making it more comfortable for the user.
Good cotton has a dull sheen, a nice drape, and feels soft and warm. One of the less popular properties of cotton is that it can wrinkle very easily, but technical innovations have led to the development of a number of cotton treatments that can be used to treat cotton fabrics to keep them looking fresh and fresh for longer.
The ability of sheep to stay dry and warm in freezing weather and pouring rain was also discovered by mankind many centuries ago. Wool is a great insulator and very waterproof. This is because, unlike hair or fur, wool fibers have a tough, water-repellent outer layer that surrounds each hollow fiber.
Of all the types of wool available, lambswool is the highest quality sheep wool available. Lambswool scarf is obtained from sheep the first time it is sheared, usually at six to seven months of age. Lambswool offers unmatched softness and its fibers are softer, stronger and more elastic than other types of wool. Because of these properties, lambswool fibers are typically used in the manufacture of clothing that is worn close to the skin.
Like cotton, lambswool fibers can absorb moisture without becoming damp or sticky, while the tough outer layer of each lambswool fiber protects against moisture. Water is repelled but moisture is absorbed and this helps the lambswool clothing to maintain a comfortable and even body temperature.
Lambswool is a wonderful thermal insulator. Rolling up the wool creates insulating air spaces that store heat next to the body, while the hard outer surface of the lambswool fibers draws liquid moisture away from the body. Because lambswool has this ability to regulate temperature and allow the body to breathe, it is ideal for changing weather conditions and the whims of the UK climate.
Lambswool also has excellent spinning properties, which makes it easy to shape and sculpt. The flexibility of the lambswool fibers allows the garments to adapt to the body while maintaining their shape.
At a time when allergies are common, lambswool has another important benefit. It is not known that lambswool is also the most hypoallergenic of all wool. Lambswool is even resistant to dust mites, which makes lambswool clothing an ideal choice for people with common allergies and asthma.
Known for its exquisite softness, cashmere wool is obtained from fine-haired Kashmiri goats that live in the coldest and least hospitable parts of the planet, such as the remote mountain ranges of China, Mongolia and Tibet. Each animal only produces around 150 grams of cashmere per year, hence the luxury status and additional cost of cashmere products.
Cashmere goats produce a double fleece, which consists of a thin, soft undercoat that is mixed with an outer layer of straight and much coarser hair, the so-called protective hair, which cannot be used. Washed and carded before use.
The natural crimping of the pure cashmere fibers allows the fibers to interlock during processing and can then be spun into an exceptionally fine and light fabric. The crimp of the fiber correlates with the fineness of the spun yarn and the softness of the end product. The fabric retains the loft of the fibers, which means that the cashmere is wonderfully warm but has hardly any weight.
The good news is that all of these natural fibers can be successfully blended with synthetic ones. However, they still impart their own unique properties. In many cases, adding synthetic fibers to cotton, lambswool, or cashmere can improve the natural properties. Cotton, for example, is less prone to wrinkling when mixed with other fibers.
There are also costs to consider. Luxury and quality always come at a premium price, but the combination of cotton, lambswool or cashmere means they can be in any price range.